The International Cocoa Diplomacy (ICD) is gearing up to hold the 2024 Nigeria edition of the International Cocoa and Chocolate Forum, (ICCF) in Abuja and Lagos. The forum is the main platform by the ICD for networking, partnerships, collaboration, ideas and cultural exchange, bilateral trade, opportunities, learning and forming new alliances. The Nigerian edition, which is being organised in partnership with the Nigerian Export and Import Bank (NEXIM), and Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) with the theme; ‘Putting Value in Cocoa at Producing Regions’, would hold from January 9 to 11, 2024.
The Team Lead for ICCF2024, Shola Mohammed, said that ICCF 2024 Nigeria, is a follow up on the discussion at the recently-concluded United Kingdom edition of the event that was held in October 2023, and that it is a call to action to continue discussions where policy formation would meet investment requirements for the sole purpose of creating the cocoa culture that would begin to intentionally add value to cocoa and create wealth at origin. He said that the ICCF 2024 also aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, as part of measures to promote economic diversification, address the scarcity of foreign exchange, and enhance jobs creation for the country.
The Executive Director, Cocoa Research Institute Of Nigeria (CRIN), Dr. Patrick Adebola, said the institute is pleased to partner with NEXIM Bank and International Cocoa Diplomacy, who put together the International Cocoa and Chocolate Forum, which is a platform for networking, partnerships, collaboration, ideas and cultural exchange, bilateral trade, opportunities, learning and forming new alliances. Adebola, who was represented at the briefing by the Director/Leader, Cocoa Programme of CRIN, Dr. Samuel Orisajo, stated that the country’s cocoa beans are known for their unique flavour profile, which contributes to Nigeria’s reputation in the global cocoa market. He said at the conference, CRIN’s efforts on training farmers to focus on producing high-quality cocoa beans adopt best agricultural practices and value addition through processing and manufacturing of cocoa-based products, to ensure profitability and compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
